Winger Jason Banton boosts Plymouth Argyle

MANAGER John Sheridan hopes new recruit Jason Banton will bring some excitement to Plymouth Argyle.

Sheridan believes the 21-year-old winger (below) who has arrived on a one-month loan from Championship club Crystal Palace, has the pace to stretch opposition defences and make Argyle more of an attacking threat.

Banton will train with his new team-mates for the first time today as the Pilgrims' squad prepare for the game against Dagenham and Redbridge at Home Park tomorrow (3pm).

His arrival has coincided with the departure of left-back Robbie Williams and striker Rhys Griffiths, who have both had their Argyle contracts terminated by mutual consent.

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Banton signed for Palace at the end of October after a trial period and made his debut for them in a 0-0 draw at home to Stoke City in a FA Cup third round tie on January 5.

He was a second half substitute for former Pilgrims' winger Yannick Bolasie.

Banton had spells in the youth set-ups at Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers before signing for Liverpool in January 2011. He then completed a move to Leicester City on a one-year contract that summer.

He did not play for Leicester, however, and appeared once as a substitute for Burton Albion during a short loan spell in October 2011.

Sheridan said: "Jason has been at some really good clubs. I have seen clips of him, and spoken to one or two people who know him, and he can be a very exciting player.

"I thought it was important we got a player who is going to gain us that ground, 30 or 40 yards on up the pitch, quickly. He will get at people.

"He was involved in the (Palace) first team against Stoke only a couple of weeks ago. He's highly recommended and, hopefully, he's going to excite us, give everyone a lift, and play at a good tempo."

Banton, a former England under-17 international, is the sixth signing made by Sheridan since he was appointed as Argyle manager on January 6.

He has followed Ronan Murray, Guy Branston, Gozie Ugwu, Anthony Charles and Reuben Reid into Home Park.

Although the January transfer window closed at 11pm last night, Football League clubs can resume making loan signings from February 7.

Banton has scored three goals in 12 games for Palace's 'development side' this season.

His loan spell with Argyle is up to and including the visit of Barnet to Home Park on Saturday, March 2, a period covering six games.

Banton will wear the number 19 shirt after it was vacated by winger Joe Lennox, whose contract with the Pilgrims officially ended yesterday.

Lennox, on social media site twitter, said: "Thank you to the fans and everyone at #PAFC for the support they gave me. Had such a good time there! All the best for the future! #GreatClub."

Williams and Griffiths both parted company with Argyle after Sheridan told them they did not figure in his first team plans.

Each of them had deals with the Pilgrims until the end of the season.

Williams made 44 starts and two substitute appearances for Argyle, and scored five goals, after signing as a free agent in July 2011.

Griffiths was signed by former manager Carl Fletcher from Welsh Premier League club Port Talbot Town last summer after a short trial period.

He put his career as a firefighter in South Wales on hold to take up the chance of playing professional football for the first time.

Griffiths struggled to stay fit, however, making seven starts and 10 substitute appearances for Argyle, and scoring three goals.

Both he and Williams are now free agents and can sign for anyone they choose.

Sheridan said: "It's not a nice thing to tell people, but it's totally for the benefit of the lads. They are both experienced players and I don't think it's right for them to be sitting around at their stage of their careers.

"Hopefully, they will go and get somewhere else, which I'm sure they will. I have just got to look at what is going to be good for us.

"Having too many bodies and people not really doing anything is something I don't really need, and I don't think the players need it."

Sheridan has plenty of cover at left-back even after the departure of Williams, with Onismor Bhasera and Charles both capable of filling that role.

The Pilgrims' boss revealed there had been no inquiries for Bhasera, despite the Zimbabwe international being linked with Shrewsbury, Walsall and Northampton earlier in the month.

Sheridan also admitted he had been impressed by 16-year-old apprentice left-back Ben Purrington when he played for an Argyle XI in a friendly away to Saltash United on Wednesday.

Wiggys
So thats 2 of us females on the forum at least then with all these guys around us of and the inane Doctor X (who I think is neither sex and a paranoid android).
Maybe girl power can make a come back again!
Stick with it gal - you are doing fine so far!
Mandy Lifeboat xx

Didn't he have a record in the charts a few years back or was it his brother Buju ?
Jonners certainly isn't wasting any time sorting out the wheat from chaff is he !! Didn't take him long to see the potential (or lack of it ) from our fire fighting striker and now Robbie has had to bite the bullet... Me thinks that non event game at Saltash had a deeper significance than to merely give some of the boys a run out... The likes of wotts Feeno and Chadders must be having sleepless nights although I personally think it would be an insult to let Wottsie go.. New broom clean sweep...
Was looking forward to seeing the Reading laddie but JB looks as though he may have a bit of pace about him and it was Chaka Demus and Pliers I was thinking of !!

I always said Fletcher was not appropriate manager for us and often said I hoped I would be proved wrong but I was not. Can't believe those that stood by Fletcher for so long. I always said I would have got rid of him along with Chadwick and Feeney in the summer.
What I am prepared to do is reserve judgement on Sheridan unlike some posting comments on here. He has managed two games and brought in 6 new players which will have to get used to playing with each other. Also some of the sympathy for CF after is sacking was not justified. I was glad to see him go but disappointed he had not gone sooner along with the rubbish he signed. A Fireman aged 32! Always thought that was ridiculous.
As a foot note small club like Bournemouth just sign a player for 400,000 from Swindon. Pity we could not find someone to put the money into our club like that but I think that is wishful thinking?

Well that's your choice next season but I have a feeling that as you have supported them for 30 plus years then you'll be back
No, not a teenager and not even a son, I am in fact a female!!
jS will do ok, just give him time

@Wiggys,sorry to disappoint you old son (I assume you are a teenager) BUT I HAVE SEEN THEM PLAY (with the exception of Banton) first saw Pickle must be 20years ago on loan then from Leicester also at Torquay and now in his 2nd spell with Argyle,CHARLES well I was at last weeks game and have also seen him not shine with Northampton,Reid we know of him from earliar times and as at YEOVIL starts like a worldbeater then returns to the hapless missfit that is his nature,the other two (one is already crocked only 3 weeks of his loan to go now) both have been trying to impress at Torquay and Murray I also him play a couple of games for Swindon.Interestingly none of them have attracted attention from teams in the championship.
Like I say NO BETTER THAN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE,and Master Wiggys I have kept the faith for over 30years but the appointment of this failed manager is the last straw,they wont be getting my season ticket cash next June.
Oh and by the way,because I dont think you were at the game last week,not much sign of any goals tactics or in deed a plan b when it was an obvious shambles,winning mentality in thier dreams,if you had no hope before you certainly havent now with this loser in charge,still he talks a good game so i have been told.
Puzzle really why no one else wanted to employ him !!

Bennyboy, no better than we already ready have and that opinion has been formed before you see some of them play!! That shows your negativity unless you have some special powers to see into the future. Any worse than Chadwick or Feeney? That would be some achievement
We were going nowhere with CF and the quicker people realise that and to get behind JS and the team the better it will be. So what if Chesterfield fans thought he was clueless, all supporters normally think that once a manager leaves. If CF went to another club then we would say the same
Things will improve, they couldn't get any worse could they
Show some faith, get behind the team and JS

Bennyboy, no better than we already have!! Wow, and that's before you see most of them play, what amazing powers you have. If any of them are worse than Chadwick or Feeney then that would be some achievement.
When will you realise that under CF we couldn't allow things to carry on as they were. No tactics, no goals, no winning mentality and no hope!!
JS is a positive move forward and so what if Chesterfield fans think he had no clue. We would say the same about CF if he went to another club. Fans are never they complimentary of previous bosses normally once they leave.
Have some faith Bennyboy, have some faith

Wishfull thinking Cardiffgreen step out of dreamland nothing has changed out there just names,unbeaten run !!! I assume you mean winning run not a series of draws,yes we will hopefully go on one of those but I am afraid we will have to wait until next season in the conference.

Hopefully this means Baz at left back for the foreseeable future because I like him there due to his ability to over-lap the wingers which I feel is a dangerous trait in any division. I personally didn't like Charles at left back, he was too slow but did look able to defend so would be a good CB probably.